Enclosed breaker point apparatus



Oct. 22, 1957. A. c. RUSSELL 2,810,796

ENCLOSED lBREAKER POINT APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1956 Alfa/wey United States Patent() ENCLOSED BREAKER POINT APPARATUS Andrew 'Craig Russell, Shawnee, Okla. ApplicationiJuly 9,.1956Serial No. 596,630 Claims. (Cl. 200-30) breaker `point assemblies of the type wherein isl utilized a single set of electrical contacts comprising opposed plates-of considerable` area each having a dat-face adapted to abut againstonefanother during make periods of the apparatusvand it is the primaryfrobject of thisinvention torproviderabreaker'point assembly of the class justde-l scribed in which Vthe movable contactsV plates are cornpletely and effectively .protected from all types of contaminating and injurious substances such as dust,-dirt, and harmful vapors and gases. Y

As is well known, the yefciencyof a breakerfpoint assembly is directly proportional tothe elective contact area between-the contact elements, and if such-elements becomehighly oxidized, corrodedand pitted, the amount of current ow throughthe assembly is greatly decreased. It is, therefore, another important object of this invention to provide a breaker point assembly in which the electrical contact elements are enclosed within a hollow housing forming a part of the assembly whereby contamination ofthe elements by dust, dirt andforeign material including corrosive vaporsv is precluded.

Also -an object of `this invention is to provide an enclosed breaker point assembly of the type just above alluded` to whereinrneans'is provided for moving oneof the contact elements into and ontzet-engagement with .the otherelement while maintaining the elements within the housing relatively free of all injurious'substances.

Al further important object of the linvention is to provide an enclosed breaker point assembly in which the main housing for the assembly `comprises a series of stackedv plates having perforations therein to present a chamber for mounting the contact elements therewithin; the foregoing being of particular importance because the assembly may be constructed of commercially available sheet stock which is stamped to specification and then secured together, thus effecting substantial economy in construction .costs kand .decreasing theequipment outlay necessary to .produce .breaker peint .apparatuses of the kind described.

Another object Vof this invent-ion is` to providea breaker point assembly having a laminated main body portion in which a pair of the sections forming .the body are of conductive material, and the remaining sections are kof the non-conductive, wear-resistant ymaterial such Las -nylon or the like whereby electrical connection to the vcontact elements may be made .by connecting `conductor lines to said sections of conductive material, there being proice vided additional means electrically interconnecting the vmovable contact element and one of the conductive sections.

An -aim of Vthis invention also relates to a breaker point assembly of the kind referred to above in which one of the sections ofconductive material serves as the stationary contact element, thus eifecting economy in manufacture and providing for highly eiiicient passage of current to the movable contact element.

Anadditional object is to provide a breaker point assembly which may be assembled quickly and easily without the necessity of 4employing highly skilled workmen and in which the operative components may be readily replaced, thus outmoding the usual practice of discarding the entire assembly.

Other important objects of this invention, including important details of construction, which contribute to the performance characteristics and manufacturingeconomy of the apparatus, will be made clear or become al)- parent as lthe following description of the invention progresses.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing:

:Figure 1V is a top plan view of ka standard automobile distributor mechanism having the breaker point appa- V,ratuscontemplated by this invention installed-inr operative disposition therewithin;

Fig.y 2` is an enlarged,y cross sectional view taken on the irregular line lI-II of Fig. 3 y,showing the ,main housingofthe' breaker point assembly;

Fig. 3 is a reduced view taken-on theline III- III yof Fig. 2 and looking in the-.direction of the arrows, the assembly mounting Abracket being shown in Vcross section;

Fig. l4 is a reduced, cross sectional -viewtaken'on'the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a reduced, ,cross-sectional view takenon the line V'-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a reduced, ycross-sectional view taken onthe line VI-VI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7.is a reduced, cross-sectional view'taken-,on line VII-.Vliet Fig. 2; and

Fig.f8isan. enlarged-fragmentary View Lof am'odiiied form of they present invention and having-the` main housing partially in cross section for ,clarityof'illustration In the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventionaldistributor mechanism, such as utilized in the-internal combustion engines of automobiles, trucks,

,boats and the like, havinga base 12 throughwhich extends` a rotatable shaft `14 carrying a polygonalcam 116 providedfwith acam surfacehavinga number of raised peripheral points 18. A breaker point pivot pin 20 also extends from base 12 of distributor mechanism 10 in spacedparallelism to shaft 14 and the Vaxis Vof rotation of cam 16, pin- 20 being normally utilized, when conventional breaker point assemblies are employed, for mounting-a breaker point holding bracket.

The apparatus of this invention is composed of a breaker point assemblygenerallyfdesignated by t-he numeral 22 and which includes a main housing 24 secured to a mounting bracketr 26. Bracket 2.6 is -providedwith slots 28-and'30 atl one end thereoffor clearing a mounting screw .3,2 andan eccentric Vadjusting screw. 3.4 respectively whichare vutilized for orienting .and securing. bracket`26 ,l1-pon` -baselZ by means of the threaded holes conventionally providedl in the base 12 of standard vdistributor mechanism 10. Also, an elongated opening '36 :located inthe Opposite end. of bracket V,26 extends .through-main housing 24 and is adapted for-pivotally but frictionally engaging -pivot pin 20. Thus, i-t can be seen that adjustment of main housing 224 relative vto c am 16'may he Yaccomplished by loosening. screw ,32 and turningzscrew `34 :to-pivot bracket 26 about the axis of pin 20. It is to be noted material Such as silver orthe like and having a '1101 36 that pin 20 forms no part of the instant invention and therefore the details of construction and the method of mounting on base 12 have not been shown. Also, main housing 24 may be secured to bracket 26 in any suitable manner (not shown) but it is to be preferred that the face 38 of main housing 24 be disposed in a plane, substantially perpendicular to the radii of cam 16 when the assembly is mounted upon base 12 in an operative position.

Referring now to main housing 24, it can be seen that the same is constructed of a series of flat sections 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 respectively, which are disposed in superimposed, face-to-face relationship. Although the peripheral configuration of sections 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 may take any convenient form, they have been illustrated as being rectangular in shape and secured together by a plurality of bolts 50 having a nut 52 on the threaded end thereof, the bolts 50 being disposed in each corner of housing 24 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Plate 48 consists of a tlat section of conductive material such as metal and has a perforation 54 in each corner thereof for receiving bolt 50 and an integral laterallyextending lug later be defined. Disposed immediately adjacent section 48, section 46 has a central opening 56 therein as well as perforations 58 at each corner thereof in alignment with perforations 54 for receiving bolts-50. Section 44 consisting of a square segment has a circular opening 60 therein which, in conjunction with central opening 56, presents a chamber Within housing 34 for receiving electrical switching mechanism generally designated by the numeral 62. Section 44 is also provided with cornerV perforations 64 for receiving bolts 50.

Section 42, which may be much thinner than the proportions illustrated, disposed adjacent section 44 is formed of highly conductive material such as silver, silver plate 56 on one edge thereof for a purpose to or the like and performs the dual function of serving as a stationary contact element as well as providing means for conducting current either from or-to the switching mechanism 62. Section 42 also has an integral lug 66 I extending laterally at the same end as lug 56. Perforations 68 of larger diameter than perforations 454, 58 and 64 respectively are provided in section 42 for receiving annular washers 70 formed of insulating material such as nylon to insulate section 42 from each of the bolts 50.

Main body section 40 located adjacent metal plate 42 has annular perforations 72 at ceiving bolts 50.

Main body section is also provided with an elongated, straight bore 74 therethrough which has'its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to but spaced from thelongitudinal axis of an elongated pivot pin receiving opening 36. When the assembly 22 is disposed in its operative position within mechanism 10 on base 12, the longitudinal axis of bore 74 is located substantially radially to the axis of rotation of cam 16. As is clearly apparent from Fig. 2 of the drawings, section 42 is additionally provided with a central opening 76 in alignment with bore 74 but having a slightly larger diameter whereby the bore communicates with chamber 77 presented by openings 56 and 60 in sections 44 and 46 respectively.

' Electrical switching mechanism 62 preferably takes the form of an elongated rod 78 having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of bore 74 and reciprocably mounted therein, the rod 78 extending beyond both'ends of the bore 74 and opening 76. Rod 78 is mostsuitably formed of metal, although not necessarily, the wearre'- sistant qualities of nylon being, of course, suicientto satisfy the requirements. Y

'The end of rod 78 disposed within chamber 77 has a reduced portion 80, thus presenting a shoulder 82, the reduced portion 80 being suitably threaded. An annular disc-like contact element 84 formed of highly conductive each corner thereof for rediameter than portion 162 therein of larger diameter than reduced portion is disposed on that end of rod 78 against shoulder 82 and is adapted for engagement with contact section 42 during the make periods of the breaker point assembly 22. Also disposed over reduced portion 80 of rod 78 against contact element 84 is an annular washer 88 securely held thereagainst by a nut complementally threaded onto reduced portion 80. Disposed about nut 90 and reduced portion 80 of rod 78 is a coil spring 92 having one end thereof bearing against the innermost face of metal section 48 and the other end thereof disposed against metal washer 88. From the foregoing it can be readily ascertained that inasmuch as coil spring 92 is preferably formed of highly conductive, metal material that electrical connection is made between section 48 and contact element 84 while at the same time rod 78 is biased toward one end of its path of travel.

On the end of rod 78 opposite from reduced portion 80 is disposed a pointed cam engaging member 94 which is adapted to bear against cam 16 in such a manner that as shaft 14 rotates points 18 of cam 16 reciprocate rod 78 within bore 74 and cause contact element 84 to move to and from a position engaging metal contact section 42.

Inasmuch as it is preferred to use highly insulating material which has additional characteristics of wear resistance and small cost in constructing sections 40, 44 and 46, it is desirable that such sections be formed of nylon, although it is obvious that other plastic substances have similar properties. In this respect, it is manifest that the cost of production of main housing 24 has been substantially lessened by utilization of a series of interconnected face-to-face plates or sections which may be stamped from commercially available stock material without the necessity of expensive'molds or the like being employed, as well as the necessity of extruding the plastic material into a desired configuration. Also, cam-engaging member 94 is preferably formed of nylon to effectively insulate rod 78 from cam 16. Means for passing a current through the breaker point assembly 22 when contact element 84 engages contact section 42 may be provided by securing a lead line 96 tovsection 48 by virtue of a screw 98 threaded into lug 56 and likewise a lead line 100 may be attached to contact section 42 by a screw 102 threaded into lug 66.

Since rod 78 is of substantially equal cross sectional diameter to the entry of bore 74, foreign material such as dust, dirt and corrosive vapors and liquids are prevented from entering chamber 77 and oxidation and corrosion of the contact areas of contact element 84 and the contact area of section 42 are effectively precluded.

A modified form of the instant invention is disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawings which is substantially similar in operation and major components, with the principal exception of the coiled spring for biasing the reciprocable rod being disposed externally of the chamber within which the contact elements are disposed. In this form of the invention a sectioned, main housing 124 is mounted by bolts 150 and nuts 152 upon an upstanding leg of a U-shaped member 106 also having an upstanding leg 108 spaced from leg 110. It will be observed that leg 110 actually comprises one end section of the housing 124. Member 106 is mounted on bracket 26 as by screws 111. A rod 178 generally corresponding to the above described rod 78 has a threaded reduced portion 162 presenting a shoulder 164 upon which rests a movable contact element 184 which is held in place by a washer 188 and nut 190; a reduced portion 194 of lesser and having a smooth surface of substantially equal diameter to the diameter of openreciprocably passes through opening 196. Y

Rod 178 is additionally provided with a reduced portion 198 to present a shoulder 200 against which bears spring receiving washer 202 which is held in place by a retaining nut 204 threaded onto por-tion 198. A coil spring 192 is placed over nut 204 and reduced portion thereof rand 'zagainstfspringg .receiving `washer 202 I.at -the otherfend thereof. .Since the Vsmooth'portion`194 of :rod 178 :frictionally engagesth'e walls-.of opening 196 entry fzofvforeignmatter' and material into chamber 177 is .effecrtively precluded. It :is to -benoted that ithe'opening 206 :.in upstanding 'leg 110 for clearing reduced portion 194 is of greaterfzdiameter than portion'194 s'othat there is no electrical contact between leg 110 and rodi-'78.

In this form of the invention a lead line 208 may be connectedy to leg S-While a leadv line 210 is connected to contact section 142. Where bracket 26 and member 106 are bothl formed `of metal, as is preferred, line 208.maywnorma1ly .beomitted by virtue of the grounding path -through base.12.rof..mechanisml 1.0.

.It .is now apparent that .there is herein presented a breaker point assembly in which the relatively movable contact elements are protected against corrosion and contamination from external materials such as dirt and corrosive vapors, yet the entire assembly may be constructed of readily available materials at a minimum of manufac- Ituring expense. Nylon is the preferred material for constructing the insulating components of the mechanism because of its extremely wear-resistant characteristics as well as possessing very low surface frictional coefficients adapting the same for use as a bearing material for rod 178 and rod 78 and yet retaining high strength which does not become warped or the like under the operating temperatures to which the distributor mechanism 10 is subjected.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An enclosed breaker point assembly for use with an internal combustion engine provided with a distributor mechanism including a base and a rotatable cam, said assembly comprising, in combination, a series of superimposed and interconnected, plate-like sections each having a pair of ilat, parallel, opposed, major faces, presenting a main housing, certain of said sections being centrally and circularly perforated to present a chamber within the housing and certain other sections having aligned circular openings therein of lesser diameter than the perforations, presenting an elongated, cylindrical bore in the housing and communicating with one extremity of the chamber in axial alignment with the latter; means on said housing adapting the same for mounting on said base with the longitudinal axis of the bore disposed substantially radially to the axis of rotation of the cam; electrical switching mechanism carried by the housing within the chamber, said mechanism including a pair of relatively shiftable contact elements and a rod operably coupled to one of the elements, the other element being one.,

of said sections, said rod extending through the bore and being engageable with the cam for translating rotary motion of the latter into reciprocatory motion of the former to shift said one element into and out of contact with the other element; and means for making electrical connections to each of the elements respectively.

2. An enclosed breaker point assembly for use with an internal combustion engine provided with a distributor mechanism including a base and a rotatable cam, said assembly comprising, in combination, a series of superimposed and interconnected sections each having a pair of flat, parallel, opposed, major faces, presenting a main housing, a pair of said sections in relative spaced relationship being of conductive material, at least one intermediate section between said pair of sections being of non-conductive material, certain of said intermediate sections being perforated to present a chamber within the housing, and certain other sections including one of the said pair of conductive sections having aligned openings therein presenting a bore in the housing communicating with one extremity of the chamber in alignment with the latter; means on said housing adapting the same for mounting on said base with the longitudinal axis of the 'lboredispo'sed substantially radially to the axis of rotati'onfof the' cam; `electr-ical Aswitching 'mechanism carried -byithehousing saidv mechanism including a shiftable contactae'lement within the chamber adapted 'to contact said one Tof-the pair of conductive sections and a rod-oper ably coupled 'to fthe element, said rod extending through the bore and 'being engageable with thecam for translatingrotary v.mot-ion vofv the latter into reciprocatory motion of the -former toshift Asaid element into and out of lcontact' with 'said fone conductive section; structure for Amaking an electrical lconnection between the -other of said pair -of conductive sections and'saidcontact element; and means for making anelec'trical connection to -each ofsaid pair-"of conductive' sections respectively.

'3. In an assembly as set lforth in claim 2 wherein'said structure -inc'lu'desa disc-like elementV of electrically conductive material attached to said rod, and an electrically conductive coil spring disposed between the other of said pair of conductive sections and the element.

4. An enclosed breaker point assembly for use with an internal combustion engine provided with a distributor mechanism including a base and a rotatable cam, said assembly comprising, in combination, a series of interconnected sections each having a pair of flat, parallel, opposed, major faces disposed in superimposed, faceto-face relationship presenting a main housing, one of the end sections and an intermediate section remote from said one end section being of electrically conductive material, the sections between said one end section and said intermediate section being of non-crnductive material and each having a central, circular perforation therein to present a chamber within the body, certain other sections and said intermediate section having aligned, circular openings therein to present an elongated bore in the housing and communicating with one extremity of the chamber in axial alignment with the latter; means on said housing adapting the same for mounting on said base with said one end section being located remote from the cam and the longitudinal axis of the bore disposed substantially radially to the axis of rotation of the cam; electrical switching mechanism carried by the housing, said mechanism including an elongated rod slidably mounted in the bore and normally extending beyond both ends of the latter, there being a conductive disc-like, contact element secured to the rod intermediate the ends of the latter and adapted to contact said intermediate section, and a cam member of wearresistant, non-conductive material on the end of the rod adjacent the cam, said member being engageable with the cam for translating rotary motion of the latter into reciprocatory motion of the former to shift said contact element into and out of contact with said intermediate section; means for making an electrical connection between said one end section and said contact element including a coil spring of electrically conductive material within the chamber and having one end thereof bearing against said one end section, the opposite end thereof being disposed to urge the contact element toward the intermediate section; and means for making electrical connections to said one end section and the intermediate section respectively.

5. An enclosed breaker point assembly for use with an internal combustion engine provided with a distributor mechanism including a base and a rotatable cam, said assembly comprising, in combination, a series of interconnected sections each having a pair of at, parallel, opposed, major faces disposed in superimposed, faceto-face relationship presenting a main housing, a secondary panel of conductive material spaced from and parallel to said series of sections, one of the series of sections being of conductive material, certain of those of said sections between said one section and the panel being perforated to present a chamber within the housing, the remaining sections having aligned openings presenting a pair of aligned bores through the housing respectively communicating with opposite extremities of the chamber; means on said housing adapting the same for mounting on said base with the secondary panelbeing located remote from the cam and the longitudinal axis Y 0f the bore disposed substantially radially to the axis of rotation of the cam; electrical switching mechanism carried by the housing including an elongated rod in the bores and normally extending through the chamber and beyond the outermost ends of both of the bores, there being a conductive, disc-like, contact element secured to the rod within the chamber intermediate the ends of the former, a cam follower member of wear-resistant, non-conductive material on the end of the rod adjacent the cam, said member being engageable with the cam for translating rotarymotion of the latter into reciprocatory motion of the Vformer to shift said contact ele- .ment into and out of engagement with said'one of the sections, and spring-receiving structure secured to the other end of the rod; a coil spring of conductive material having one end thereof bearing against the secondary panel and the opposite end thereof bearing against' the structure to urge the contact element toward saidone section; and means for making electrical connections to the secondary panel and said one end section respectively;

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Grathe Sept. 24, 1935 Fuston Sept. 18, 1945 Vogel Feb. 26, 1952 

